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The insurance group a vehicle falls into has a significant impact on whether or not you can get cheap car insurance.
Cars are ranked 1 to 50 by the Association of British Insurers based on factors such as repair costs and value. Group 1 contains inexpensive city cars that are the most affordable to insure, while group 50 houses high-performance supercars with expensive premiums.
Personal factors matter, too. A lower-group car driven by an inexperienced young motorist can still have a high premium. Location and mileage also affect costs.
In this article, we’ll explore group 1, the cheapest insurance category. We’ll look at which cars are included and who it might suit if you’re looking for a car with a budget-friendly cover.
Car insurance group 1 contains the cheapest cars to insure. These are primarily small city cars, such as the following:
Group 1 cars tend to be smaller hatchbacks and city cars from mainstream manufacturers. Their small engine sizes, modest specs and widely available parts make them inexpensive to repair, so they cost very little to insure.
Group 1 cars are great for new and young drivers due to their affordability, as well as city dwellers who need a handy run-around.
| Factor | Description |
|---|---|
| Engine size | Group 1 cars have small petrol engines less than 1.0 litre. Tiny engines substantially reduce insurance costs compared to larger ones. |
| Repair costs | Cheap, readily available parts plus basic construction means group 1 cars cost little to repair. This keeps premiums low. |
| Safety features | Most group 1 models only offer essential safety equipment, such as airbags and anti-lock braking systems. The lack of high-tech features reduces risk and premiums. |
| Performance | With typical zero to 60mph times over 13 seconds and low top speeds under 100mph, group 1 cars aren’t performance vehicles. Modest specs mean a lower premium. |
| Threat of theft | Small city cars have little appeal to thieves looking for luxury vehicles to steal. However, some common models, such as the Ford Ka, do feature on stolen car lists. |
| Driver profile | Insurers associate group 1 cars with young, new and low-mileage drivers. More experienced motorists in higher groups pay less for the same car. |
Group 1 cars are best suited for:
Group 1 category cars are the most affordable and are ideal for drivers who value cheaper insurance, ownership and running costs over performance and specs.
Find your car’s insurance group by entering your vehicle’s make, model and registration year in a free car insurance group checker.
Your insurer will also be able to provide your exact insurance group rating. Knowing your group helps you compare premium quotes. Higher insurance groups mean more expensive premiums.
One thing to note is that cars are continually reassessed, and their group can change over time. For example, the Fiat 500 moved from group 2 to group 3 in 2022. Check your group when renewing insurance to get accurate quotes.
In summary, cars in group 1 offer the most affordable insurance. While not the most exciting vehicles, their small engines and modest specs mean that premiums are budget friendly. If you want the cheapest possible insurance without compromising on safety or reliability, group 1 is the place to look.
